The Hopi dance for moisture, a necessity for a nation of dry
farmers. Their rhythms and intricate dance steps were demonstrated
last weekend by youths from the Hopi reservation in Shungopavi,
Ariz., about two hours north of Flagstaff, during the Indian
America New Year’s Competition Pow Wow and Indian Craft Market.

“Our colors represent the clouds,” said Hopi dance coordinator
Merle Namoki, whose two daughters and two nephews performed for the
crowds.

Dancers of all ages from more than 50 tribes shared elements of
their culture during the three-day event, which took place Friday
through Sunday at Rillito Raceway Park. Participants traveled from
across the nation to compete in the drumming and dancing events.
Highlighting the daily exhibitions were performances by the Pasqua
Yaqui Deer Dancers, Nahui Ollin Aztec Dancers and Mountain Apache
Crown Dancers.

Despite a slow start caused by record cold weather, the pow wow
received a warm reception from attendees and participants alike.
Santiago Stanton from Narragansett, R.I., performed an Eastern war
dance that won over the crowd, and cameras snapped non-stop as a
hundred Native Americans in colorful traditional attire paraded
during the grand entry.